Kshitigarbha is therefore often regarded as the bodhisattva of hell-beings, as well as the guardian of children and patron deity of deceased children and aborted fetuses in Japanese culture, where he is known as Jizo or Ojizo-sama.
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Kshitigarbha prayed fervently that her mother be spared the pains of hell and appealed to the Buddha for help.
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Kshitigarbha did as she was told and her consciousness was transported to a Hell realm, where she met a guardian who informed her that through her fervent prayers and pious offerings, her mother had accumulated much merit and had already ascended to heaven.
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Kshitigarbha vowed to do her best to relieve beings of their suffering in her future lives for kalpas.
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Kshitigarbha's image is similar to that of the fictional character Tang Sanzang from the classical novel Journey to the West, so observers sometimes mistake Ksitigarbha for the latter.
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Kshitigarbha's statues are a common sight, especially by roadsides and in graveyards.
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Kshitigarbha's features are commonly made more baby-like to resemble the children he protects.
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Kshitigarbha is believed to be one of the protective deities of travellers, the dosojin, and roadside statues of Ksitigarbha are a common sight in Japan.
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Kshitigarbha is honoured as a successor to Mahamoggallana, the Buddha's disciple foremost for his supernatural attainments.
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Kshitigarbha learns how the hell-beings are punished according to their sins in the different hells.
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